Ggm civic body studying ban order on dog breeds

GURUGRAM: A day after the Gurugram district consumer dispute redressal forum banned 11 foreign dog breeds and ordered that licences to keep these canines be cancelled and the animals be taken into custody, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Wednesday said it will issue notices to owners of such dogs to give away or shift their pets to locations outside of Gurugram.

Vijay Pal Yadav, MCG deputy commissioner, said they are still studying the order -- it came on a plea filed by a woman who was bitten by a pet dog, seeking punitive action against the owner -and will shortlist points that are feasible. “We will discuss with government before forming any rules in this regard,” he said.

The forum also directed the MCG to make registration of pet dogs mandatory with effect from November 15, and to ensure all pets within its jurisdiction are registered within a month, and to issue licences for a fee of at least ₹12,000, with a yearly renewal fee of not less than ₹10,000 per dog -- a steep hike from the present ₹500 charged by the MCG.

A civic body spokesperson said: “We have no directions to change the registration fee as of now.”

The forum’s order further said: “The MCG is directed to ensure that one family will keep only one dog and that whenever the registered dog is taken to public places, its mouth shall be properly covered with a net cap or otherwise so that it may not bite anyone.”

Dr Vivek Yadav, a veterinary surgeon, said muzzling a dog can lead to its death. “Dogs don’t have sweat glands; they cool their body through their mouth. So if they are muzzled while being taken out on a walk, there are chances that the dogs may suffer a heat stroke, which may prove fatal,” he said.

Gauri Maulekhi, animal welfare expert, said the order is not only overreaching in its jurisdiction -consumer courts are meant to hear consumer complaints for compensation on good/services -but also has no basis in law.

Vivek Chaudhuri, advocate at Delhi high court and Supreme Court, said the order is unconstitutional and in direct violation of orders by the Supreme Court and several high courts. “Penalising responsible citizens (with punitive registration costs and for keeping more than one dog) is bad in law. The order is likely to be challenged and set aside,” he said.

Penalising responsible citizens (with punitive registration costs and for keeping more than one dog) is bad in law. VIVEK CHAUDHURI, Supreme Court, Delhi HC advocate